Brian Perez, Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion, TX 2024

Corpus Christi accountant Brian Perez, 34, has admitted to stealing $162,775 from his employer through a brazen wire fraud and tax evasion scheme. The former Corpus Christi resident, now living in San Antonio, pleaded guilty in federal court to orchestrating the illegal transfer of company funds into his personal tax withholding account while working as a bookkeeper.

Perez, a Certified Public Accountant, used his financial expertise to mask the theft, funneling money from his employer’s bank account between March 9, 2015, and August 7, 2015. He then filed a false income tax return with the IRS, claiming a refund on taxes he never paid — taxes that were, in fact, the stolen funds.

The fraud unraveled as federal investigators uncovered the paper trail linking the diverted payments directly to Perez’s actions. By exploiting his position of trust, Perez not only betrayed his employer but also weaponized the tax system to legitimize his theft.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2018. Perez now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and an additional three years for tax evasion. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI, highlighting the cross-agency scrutiny often brought to bear on financial crimes. Federal prosecutors view the misuse of professional credentials — especially by CPAs — as a serious breach of public trust.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case. Authorities emphasize that no amount of professional standing shields individuals from accountability when they exploit their positions for personal gain.

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